Natural Bridge State Park: Hiking Under the Iconic Bridge to Lace Falls

Natural Bridge State Park

Located within the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, this natural semi-elliptical arch, carved from limestone over millions of years, is a true geological marvel. Privately owned for nearly 250 years—including a period of ownership by Thomas Jefferson—the bridge was listed on the Virginia Landmarks Register in 1997 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1998. It finally became a Virginia State Park in 2016. During the 19th and early 20th centuries, it was frequently cited as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, ranked alongside icons like the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls, and Mount Everest.

The Descent to the Creek

After paying our $9 entrance fee ($9 per person ages 13 and over, $6 for children ages 6-12, and free for kids under 6), our journey began at the Visitors Center, where a steep but well-maintained descent took us down into the gorge. The path features a long series of 137 wooden and stone steps that are necessary due to the significant elevation change from the entrance area down to the creek bed. While the climb back up at the end of the hike is a bit of a workout, the stairs are wide and offer several spots to pause and catch your breath.

Making Our Way to Lace Falls

The Cedar Creek Trail itself is a breath of fresh air—mostly flat, shaded, and was very easy to navigate once we reached the bottom of the gorge. The path follows the winding water of Cedar Creek, providing incredible, towering views looking up at the Natural Bridge from a perspective most people only see in history books. We were lucky enough to be treated to watching speedy river otters playing and fighting over fish as we walked along the creek. At the end of the trail, we were rewarded with a stacked-stone patio and benches with a beautiful view of Lace Waterfalls.

Hike Overview

• • Location: Natural Bridge State Park
  • Start/Finish: Parking lot at the Visitors Center
  • Course Type: Out and back
  • Course Surface: Paved and gravel
  • Distance: 2.35 miles
  • Moving time: 50:23
  • Average Pace: 21:25 minute/mile
  • Elevation Gain: 429 feet
  • Elevation Range: 6,649 to 7,183 feet
  • Weather: 84° and sunny
  • Date of Hike: September 18, 2025
  • Start time: 3:05 PM

Pictures Tell the Story

After driving past Natural Bridge State Park countless times on our trips to and from the farm, we finally decided to pull over and experience this iconic landmark for ourselves. It definitely lived up to the hype!

Setting out from the Visitors Center parking lot, we made our way toward the trail entrance to begin the descent into the gorge.

After descending multiple flights of stairs (137 steps according to the official state park website), we finally reached the bottom and were soon rewarded with our first breathtaking glimpse of the Natural Bridge.

Looking up at the arched bridge from underneath…

Legend has it that George Washington carved his initials into the bridge wall around 1750 while working as a young surveyor in the area.

After properly inspecting the bridge, we checked out Cedar Creek before continuing along the paralleling trail as we made our way to Lace Falls.

A stacked-stone platform complete with benches sits at the end of the trail, providing the perfect spot to rest and enjoy the view of the falls, which were framed beautifully by the vibrant colors of the autumn leaves.

After lingering at the falls for about 30 minutes, we began our return trek, keeping a sharp eye on the water in hopes of another glimpse of the river otters we had spotted earlier.

We were thrilled to find that the otters had moved to a more open spot giving us a much better view as they played and wrestled over fish; they were incredibly fast and absolutely adorable! My husband managed to capture a perfect close-up shot when one of the little guys paused for a split second to look around.

Next we made a detour along a short side trail to the Saltpeter Cave. This historic site was once a major source of the saltpeter used for gunpowder during both the War of 1812 and the Civil War.

Approaching Natural Bridge from the back side…

As we neared the end of the trail, we faced those final, challenging flights of stairs before completing our hike back at the parking lot.

Before leaving, we checked out the sign from the Department of Historic Resources which is located along the road leading into the parking lot.

Garmin Stats

Garmin map and elevation graph…

Final Thoughts on Our Hike

The views of the bridge from below and the peaceful walk along the creek make this a must-do hike for anyone visiting Virginia. The combination of soaring geology, deep American history, and the gentle sounds of the creek created a truly unique state park experience. It was the perfect way to spend a few hours immersed in the natural beauty of the Shenandoah Valley.

Questions

• • Which part of the park sounds more enticing: the historical mystery of George Washington’s initials or the chance to spot river otters in Cedar Creek? ~ the river otters
• • Those “pesky stairs” are famous at this park—do you prefer a hike that starts with a descent and ends with a climb, or do you like to get the hard work out of the way first? ~ I prefer to get the hard work out of the way first.
• • If you’ve ever driven through the Shenandoah Valley, have you visited Natural Bridge State Park? ~ This was our first time visiting the park.